European Economic
and Social Committee
Draft guidelines for citizens and civil society participation in EU transport policies and projects
The study proposes draft guidelines to serve as a framework for participatory dialogues to facilitate planned Commission initiatives to implement the 2011 transport policy White Paper or infrastructure projects on the TEN T Core Network Corridors.
Participants will vary depending on the context.
A dialogue should be early, transparent, open and managed in a neutral fashion. Interventions shall receive a rapid reaction and follow up shall include information about the final outcome of the initiative. The limits to what a dialogue can achieve must be clear.
Neutral management by EESC is vital to inspire confidence that will attract participants.
A dialogue can be events or internet based or a combination of both. For efficiency, flexibility and financial reasons the study prefers an internet dialogue.
Most costs should be borne by the party initiating the dialogue; the European Commission for policy and legislative proposals and Member States concerned or project promoters for TEN T projects.
The study also outlines a project for finalising the guidelines through a cooperative process, including one or more test dialogues.